Improve your listening skills

Great ideas on how to improve your English listening skills

Languages never stay the same. Think about the place where you are from and the way people speak. Now think about a town or city a hundred kilometers in any direction. They probably speak in a different way to you. For any language learner it is important to learn and get used to the differences in: accent, speed, fluency, pronunciation, emotion and so on.

The best way you can achieve this in English is by exposing yourself to a variety of English accents through listening.

Listen to English as part of your everyday life whenever you can, when you are getting ready in the morning, cooking, cleaning, organizing your house or when you’re exercising.

You will be amazed how your English will improve because without realising you will learn new vocabulary and grammar.

Here’s what can help you!

Listen to an English radio station.

Watch your favourite TV series or movie in English with subtitles in your own language at first. When you feel more confident watch it only in English with English subtitles.

Get an Audiobook of one of your favourite books that you have already read and listen to it when you can.http://www.audible.com/

When there is a language exchange event in your area try and talk to as many native English speakers as you can.

Listen to podcasts this is a great site it has lots and lots of great topics to listen to: https://player.fm/en/featured/educationor google a topic that you are really interested in, e.g. type science podcast etc.

To improve your grammar

Here is a link to a great site of animated videos of conversations that focus on different grammatical structures, such as reported speech, articles and modals. Each video comes with activities and transcripts.

This is a collection of short audio recordings, suitable for intermediate to advanced students, about issues connected with business and academic issues, from biotechnology, eBay and developing creativity. They are usually monologues

Enjoy!!!!

Some of the best ways to learn English.

One of the most important things when learning a new language is to enjoy it. This can be easy to do, it´s all about how you learn and how you recognize the progress you´re making and how great you feel seeing how well you’re doing.

Focus on creating full, real English sentences every time you learn a new word.

If you want to fell that wonderful sense of confidence and achievement (of success) every time you sit down to learn English, the number one thing you should do is impress yourself (feel proud of yourself) is by speaking full English sentences.

Children do not learn grammar first. They start learning words to communicate, then short series of words together (sentences) to communicate more and then it grows from there.

Whenever you learn English from now on, focus on forming full sentences. If you have to, you can quickly look up grammar here and there to fill in the gaps, just so you understand how to make the sentences properly.

This is also great for remembering vocabulary, because you remember the words meaning when you use it in a sentence.

For example, when you focus on English for an hour, learn a few new words thenimmediately use them in full sentences. When you learn “to go” start to use “to go” right away, don’t wait.

I want to go to the cinema because I like movies.

When did you go to London?

Every time you sit down to learn English, try to have a little conversation with what you have just learnt. Repeat and repeat and repeat. Practice the new word inside 5 or 10 or 20 different sentences and see how good it feels.

At every level of English, make long sentences, because you can!!!!!

You will feel great because you are using the new word in real spoken English.

Do not feel like you have to practice lots before you begin talking in English. You can begin talking English NOW.

Speak out loud:

If you’re alone, speak out loud. Talk to yourself – it’s a great listening habit.

Quick Links

Follow Us

About Study Online English

My name is Amy, the creator of Study Online English. I am a certified Cambridge University IELTS teacher as well as a qualified English language teacher and language lover. I am a compassionate teacher who understands and listens to student’s goals, needs and unique interests.